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ABOUT US Founded in 2001, the Hitmen Junior Hockey Association is a 501(c) non-profit tax-exempt organization. Our purpose is to promote and develop youth ice hockey programs in the City of Houston.. MISSION STATEMENT To develop character, sportsmanship, and physical fitness among the youth; promote, encourage, and improve the standard of amateur ice hockey; associate with other ice hockey associations; and conduct an amateur ice hockey program consistent with the rules and regulations of the Texas Amateur Hockey Association, North Texas Hockey League, and USA Hockey. COACHING INFORMATION Our coaches are certified through USA Hockey, Inc. and are chosen following background checks and a detailed review of playing and coaching experience as stated in each one's coaching application. Teams are comprised of one head coach and 1-3 assistant coaches as well as a team manager who coordinates all of the travel and administrative aspects for each team. Many other team parents volunteer their time to help the season run as smoothly as possible.
It’s a Game for Life We believe that hockey is a game, a fun game, a fast game, a game of skill and a game that can be played over the course of a lifetime by those that love it. We want to do all we can to help each player find this love and respect for the game. Team First Character Matters We believe that a player’s attitude as much as their aptitude is the key to the success they will have in hockey, and in life. Its not about one player’s stats or a team’s won/loss record, rather it is all about improving, being a team player, accepting responsibility, placing no blame, and getting most of your abilities as they develop. There are no Shortcuts We believe that on-ice and off ice practice, attention to school work and family responsibilities are the key to developing great hockey players and young men/women. A Common System and Approach We believe that a common system of play is essential for growing hockey players in a junior hockey organization. Much time and effort is taken by coaches at all levels – squirts through midgets – to align on a system of play, nomenclature to positional play and transitional elements allowing for optimal growth of players and teams over time. We want even our youngest teams (squirts) to begin playing in our designated system of play, making the necessary mistakes to grow and master such things as D-to-D passing, hinging, rotation, etc. Specifically, we have organization wide systems for: - Break Outs - Neutral Zone - Attack Zone - Defensive Zone - Forecheck - Read and React Play - Special Teams – Power Play - Special Teams – Penalty Kill The Coaches Role We believe that a coach is a coach not a parent with the job to teach skills, provide an understanding of how the game is played, motivate each player individually to achieve their very best and ensure that team goals are paramount to individual goals.
PRACTICES Commit to the Team We believe that committed teams are made up of committed players. Players should be punctual to practice, respect your teammates and your coaches, come with the attitude to learn and improve every time and leave off-ice issues off the ice. Intensity & Passion We believe that teams play like they practice so practices will be designed to emulate game-type conditions and game speed. We believe that players must focus their energy and intensity both on and off the ice to improve their physical and mental abilities. We will ask each player to commit to achieving the highest possible speed of execution of play in practice (as in games). Small Ice Games & Pond Hockey We believe in the creation of small ice games in every practice and the utilization of these times to encourage competition, creativity and game speed conditions. All practices will contain small ice games designed to work on certain elements for players and the team. We believe further in the concept of “pond hockey” where at certain times during the year, especially during holidays, we will seek to make ice available for players to come and play, experiment, have fun with minimal coaching – thus encouraging the idea of risk taking and hockey creativity with no perceived repercussions. On & Off Ice Preparation We believe that hockey is a game of skill, determination and stamina. As such, drills and practice plans will be developed at all levels – squirts through midgets – to provide development for players in these areas both on and off the ice. Preparation & Presentation We believe that most the work for a successful practice happens well before players and coaches take to the ice via the orderly development of a practice plan designed to work on team goals (and player skills). Coaches are responsible to be thoroughly prepared and present to their players an orderly and coordinated practice to ensure team cohesion and success. An ill prepared practice, no matter how well skated, is a waste of everyone’s time. Motivation is a Noun not a Verb We believe and expect that players will come prepared to give it their all. As coaches, we will seek to tap into each player’s motivation to allow them to achieve success in their role, so that that team can achieve success in its goals. While inspiration and direction will be a part of every practice and game, any player who needs to be “motivated” to play their hardest or to enjoy the game has bigger issues to deal with than a desire to play. More Ice Time We believe that ice time is scarce and any way that more ice time can be garnered for players and teams is a good thing, irrespective of any inconveniences. Accordingly, we look over the course of the season across our organization to develop shared practice times between teams – in essence doubling the ice time for players. There are times when two teams can run a coordinated practice of both full and half ice. Also, we believe it is in players best interests to invite them up or down to practice with other teams in our organization – for instance, a particular team’s top elite players could be invited up to play at the next age level for practices, as the team’s most under-developed or marginal players could be invited down to the next lower age level for practices.
GAMES Respect for the Game We believe that our players should exude respect for the game at all times. This means protecting the other team’s players by avoiding cheap shots or injurious play. Clean hits that result in injury are a part of the game, but a dirty play or a play made in anger or retaliation disrespects all who play. Respect Leaders We believe that players should respect the role of the referee and defer to their coaches to address any issues regarding officiating. Teammates should respect their captains and their coaches at all times, irrespective of their agreeing with or disagreeing with a particular decision or action. Look Like a Team At any game or scrimmage, or other team event, all players will be expected to dress in the appropriate team attire as designated at the beginning of the season by the coach. It will be essential that players look and comport themselves in a courteous and professional manner so as to bring honor and respect to themselves, their teammates and the organization. Winning is a result, not an action This might sound odd coming from the hockey organization that led the NTXHL in divisional championships this past year, but we thoroughly believe that winning is the result of actions taken by a team to achieve a goal. It is not to be viewed as a means to an end. Our coaches will play to a team’s particular strength or another team’s weakness in developing game plans. Winning a game is the result of execution of that game plan. Execution of a game plan does not guarantee winning, but failure to execute almost always assures defeat. With total focus and effort, teams will achieve success regardless of what the scoreboard says. Teams win, Not Players We believe that good teams will always win out over great players. Accordingly, we will stress the role of each teammate to another and to the team overall and utilize each player’s strengths, while mitigating their weaknesses to achieve team goals. Our goal will be to create super teams of players, with defined roles, realizing that certain players by the nature of their role on a team may have more or less ice time than another, or play in a particular situation.
CHARACTER & PLAYER DEVELOPMENT It’s Got to be Personal We believe that the best coaches are those that do take the game and their team’s efforts personal. As a leader for a team, they connect personally to the team’s goals by wanting to become better themselves through achieving the goals. This creates an authentic energy for all players to want to jump on board and be a part of something special. As coaches, we respect the opportunity both players and parents entrust to us each week to teach hockey and character skills that can last a lifetime. Outcome Clarity We believe that coaches should be clear on what it takes to attempt to achieve any goal established by the team and that failure in an honest effort to achieve that goal(s) is possible. But, if each player works hard and puts the team first, they will have done all they can do and will feel a sense of pride regardless of the outcome. Communication We believe in both regular and informal communication between coaches and players and parents. We generally subscribe to the 48-hour rule that allows for any coach to be available to a parent for a discussion about a particular practice or game 48 hours after that practice/game. Players have real time, any time communication ability with coaches. We believe in regular feedback to players via a “report card” on the development of their hockey skills and attributes, in an attempt to draw focus on those areas being excelled at, and those needing continued attention. Fail Forward We believe it is essential for coaches to instill in each team and their players the idea of what a “good mistake” or an “advancing mistake” looks like. A good mistake is a mistake that will keep a team moving towards the stated goals and are the result of attempting to master particular skills or facets of the game which is part of the process of both player and team development. Failing to make mistakes in practices (and at times in games) can potentially be the sign of a team stagnating. The Right Decisions, Not Always the Easy Ones We believe one of the best ways for coaches and teams to connect comes when coaches made the “right” decision not the “popular” or “easy” decision. We want our players to see coaches struggling with tough decisions and making the right decision, doing the right thing. Stretching We believe the hockey is as much about mental as it is about physical preparation. To that end, we believe in the Latin root of the word “education” which is “educre” meaning to find from within. Accordingly, we want to regularly ask our players to stretch their abilities, to test their physical and mental capabilities in an effort to expand their game and we will “positively challenge” all players in this regard. We believe at the youngest levels – squirts and peewees – that it is crucial for players to be moved around and challenged in various positions to allow for skill development and also the attainment of a greater perspective for the game, essential to long term capability enhancement. Be Big in Small Moments Finally, we believe that the true measure of any player, of any person for that matter is their actions and reactions when no one else is watching. Some players can turn it on at crunch time, others can be great clutch players. Each of these are enviable traits. But the true measure of character that we seek to instill is for each player to realize it is their commitment and passion to be big in the smallest moments that will truly carry the day. In hockey, most goals start from the smallest most innocuous plays originated by a player doing his job. It could be digging the puck out of the corner, making a good chip to start a breakout, clearing a rebound to the corner to start a transition, or making a line change when a player is tired to get a fresh pair of legs on the ice. Whatever it is, as coaches we seek to teach players that in hockey, as in life, you can be defined by the things you do, the truly big things you do, when no one is watching or if they are, it would appear your efforts are either unnecessary or unnoticed.
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